Traveller-friendly oral health initiative launched in Cork

The Dental Health Foundation Ireland has launched a child oral health initiative designed to support Traveller parents and their children at an event in Shandon.

A Caring for Your Child’s Gums and Teeth educational flipbook, developed in collaboration with the Cork Traveller Visibility Group, fridge magnet featuring simple tooth care tips, and an animated online video have been released as part of the initiative.

Designed with accessibility in mind, the flipbook uses plain English, colour-coded sections, and imagery that reflects Traveller culture and identity.

The resource was created with significant input from Traveller community health workers in Cork.

Over the coming months, community health workers in Cork will participate in oral health workshops, delivering the resource locally within their communities.

Best start in life

Paul O’Dwyer, a dental surgeon and board member of the Dental Health Foundation Ireland, said: “Healthy baby teeth without decay is one of the best starts a child can have in life.

“Babies are not born with tooth decay and, through this initiative, we want to help families to think about their food and drink choices, and oral hygiene practices. Simple changes can make a significant difference — from avoiding sugary drinks and bed-time bottles to establishing healthy brushing habits early.”

Eileen Burke, a community health worker with the Cork Traveller Visibility Group, added: “One of the main reasons we got involved in this booklet was because we wanted it to be Traveller-friendly.

“It was done with Travellers, for Travellers. We wanted to ensure that any Traveller that had literacy problems would be able to relate to it, be able to comprehend what the booklet is saying, and that it would use images that reflect our community,” said Ms Burke.

“Oral health is a big issue for those Travellers with poor access to sanitation. Kids may not have the space to be able to brush their teeth, if they’re living in a very small caravan.

“If the weather is bad, it’s going to be hard for the children to go out and brush their teeth too. It can also be difficult to achieve in practice when running water and washroom facilities are not available or out of service.

“Thanks to this new initiative, I think people in our community will not only gain a lot of information from the booklet, but also a lot of confidence in better looking after their children’s oral health.”